Internet Scams Exposed

SCAM WATCH: Internet & SMS Scams - Phishing - Email Fraud

These emails and text messages are real examples of current scams. Learn to identify them. Please forward any scams you receive to Mark Hutten: mbhutten@yahoo.com. They will be posted on this site withoutyour email address.

What To Do If You Have Been Scammed

Have you lost money due to a scam?

Email: mbhutten@gmail.comwith a description of how the scam worked (i.e., what happened exactly), and we will try to (a) locate the scam artist(s), (b) work with law enforcement to expedite prosecution, and (c) help you get some - or all - of your money back.

31.12.11

From: Chevron Texaco Oil Company Subject: End Of The Year Xmas Winner Of $750,000.00Date: Thursday, December 29, 2011, 9:38 AM

Your email emerged in the on-going Chevron/Texaco Award that was held December 27th, and you are to claim the sum of
$750,000.00 usd, which means you are one of our (5) lucky winner's, Your number is: (CHTX-210-11-38LSD). send the
following info for funds release.1.Full Names 2. Address 3. Country/State 4. phone 5. Sex: 6. Age 7. Occupation.
with regards Anna Rose.Promotion Announcer

30.12.11

Your Webmail Quota Has Exceeded The Set Quota/Limit Which Is 20GB.
You Are Currently Running On 23GB Due To Hidden Files And Folder On Your Mailbox.
Please Click the Link Below To Validate Your Mailbox And Increase Your Quota.

29.12.11

My mother signed up for a $2 trial of a product from these guys, and the cooling off period was 30 days.... this is the 11th day, and a pending amount of $80 now sits in her account to be drawn out, We cannot afford this, all further transactions have been closed....

26.12.11

Mark, here you'll find the first email I every received that got this thing going. Now its daily non-stop. Do you know who this guy is? I suspect it to be a scam but how does one confirm that it is or isn't. I'm familiar with that saying "if it sounds to good to be true it probably is". I'm supposed to receive 10 million this week sometime in exchange for $1600. Now lets face it, this falls in to the category of if it sounds to good to be true.

This is a separate suspected scam than the one I originally contacted you about. I'm trying to find out who this Tom Anderson is. He claims to be from Portugal and the name Tom Anderson is a far cry from a Portuguese name. He grew up there and his accent confirms to me that he wasn't raised here in the states. I've done the scam check as I did on the other potential scam but the way the results are written out in some cases it seems as though Tom Anderson is on our side and not the scammer. They make it very confusing.

I think as I haven't heard anything from the previous probable scam they are backing off realizing I'm not going to send them any money. They sure have a way of making it sound good and hard to resist.

Here's the email that started this current on going transaction: I see as you will that he apparently doesn't know how to spell Thomas but now goes by Tom. This email I received on Oct. 30, 2011 so two months have passed and as yet I have sent him any money nor has he asked for any (YET). If you do have any information about Tom (Thomas) Anderson

Dear Sir,

I am Mr. Tomas Anderson Auditor of a Bank here in America; I would want to know your capability of investing with you the sum total of $18,000,000.00(Eighteen Million Dollars Only) dollar equivalent that will be under your control

This amount will be transferred to you as soon as I receive your reply indicating your interest and ability to handle this.

We can sponsor any project that would bring good returns. Maybe real estate, oil sector e.t.c.

I will let you know the full details of this immediately you indicate your interest and also the necessary documents regarding the fund will be forwarded to you immediately. Our sharing ratio will be subject to negotiation.

25.12.11

I am Colonel Brian D. Kent American Combat Soldier group of 50,000, 00 combatant, left behind in Iraq for advisory and assistance to Iraq Forces after the Handing over to Iraq Peace Keeping Force, During my services, I was been able to secure Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollar($3.5 million U.S Dollars) which is my own share of the money we shared among ourselves that belong to Saddam Hussein and his family. i have carefully arrange the said fund in a military consignment trunk box.

I want to hand over this funds to a Trust Worthy Person that we help me keep it safe, till am back from the Camp in Baghdad Iraq in December 2011. Since Our Final Troops is leaving Iraq 2011, could you be trusted? kindly send me your name and mobile number for easy communication.

You will find the story of this money on the web address below. After we have summated the remaining parthttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2967029.stmPlease kindly keep this transaction Confidential because I am still serving in the Military camp in Baghdad Iraq.

24.12.11

I'm right I believe in the middle of a scam. It all started when I received an email from someone telling me they were in Iraq and had found a large amount of money assumed to be some of Saddam Hussein's stashed billions.

He represented himself as being a Staff Sargent in the U.S. Army serving in Iraq. If I promised to keep it a secret he was going to share 50/50 with me 16 million dollars.

This all started about two months ago and the Sargent's name was Matthew Pemble. I did a Google internet fraud and scam search on him and found some pretty interesting information about him.

He told me that he was going to have a company named Gresham-Securities handle the transfer of this money to me by a Diplomat named James Williams. Who I have also done a scam search For and again found allot of interesting information on. We stopped communicating for quite awhile and the out of the clear blue I received an email from James Williams telling me that the Sargent was killed in action in Iraq. He told me also that he was now in New York with the two cases of money but as he didn't have the combination to the cases and knowing that I did he decided he would share these funds with me. He told me that he was leaving NYC that afternoon and was to arrive in Tampa where I live that evening.

I never did hear from him again until much later that evening telling me that Homeland Security had caught up with him in Miami and they were detaining him and confiscated the two cases.

He supposedly is still in Miami with the cases being held by Homeland Security. He told me that they decided he had labeled the case wrong and were fining him $1000. He doesn't have $1000 and I'm supposed to go to Miami this next Thursday and pay Homeland Security to $1000. What I'm not sure of yet is how exactly we are going to pay them. I don't know if he expects me to give him the money and he will then pay the fine or will I just pay the fine on his behalf.

It seems like they have wasted allot of time for a scam that would net them just $1000. I do hear from him just about everyday kind of just checking in with me.

What should I do at this point in time. I have no way of knowing whether or not he's in Miami. He has never asked me for any money which I'm sure you'll agree is unusual. As near as I can tell he's been in Miami for at least two weeks now patiently waiting for me to get the $1000 which will be accepted by Homeland Security in the form of cash only. I have done a little investigative work myself and Homeland Security here in Tampa say they would accept a personal check for such a payment. I haven't told them the entire story as I has you here.

23.12.11

Please I want you to read this letter very carefully and I must apologize for barging this message into your mail box without any formal introduction due to the urgency and confidential of this issue and I know that this message will come to you as a surprise. Please this is not a joke and I will not like you to joke with it,

With due respect to your person and much sincerity of purpose, I make this contact with you as I believe that you can be of great assistance to me. My name is Mr. Drissa Pascal from Ouagadougou Republic of BURKINA FASO , West Africa . Presently i work in the African development Bank as telex manager. I have been searching for your contact since you left our country some years ago.

I do not know whether this is your correct email address or not because I only used your name initials to search for your contact .In case you are not the person I am supposed to contact, please see this as a confidential message and do not reveal it to another person but if you are not the intended receiver, do let me know whether you can be of assistance regarding my proposal below because it is top secret.

I am about to retire from active Bank service to start a new life but I am sceptical to reveal this particular secret to a stranger. You must assure me that everything will be handled confidentially because we are not going to suffer again in life.

It has been 10 years now that most of the greedy African Politicians used our bank to launder money overseas through the help of their Political advisers. Most of the funds which they transferred out of the shores of Africa were gold and oil money that was supposed to have been used to develop the continent. Their Political advisers always inflated the amounts before transfer to foreign accounts so I also used the opportunity to divert part of the funds hence I am aware that there is no official trace of how much was transferred as all the accounts used for such transfers were being closed after transfer.

I acted as the Bank Officer to most of the politicians and when I discovered that they were using me to succeed in their greedy act; I also cleaned some of their banking records from the Bank files and no one cared to ask me because the money was too much for them to control. They laundered over $5b Dollars during the process .As I am sending this message to you, I was able to divert Eleven Million Five hundred thousand US dollars ($11.5m) to an escrow account belonging to no one in the bank. The bank is anxious now to know who the beneficiary to the funds is because they have made a lot of profits with the funds.

It is more than Eight years now and most of the politicians are no longer using our bank to transfer funds overseas. The ($11.5m) Eleven Million Five hundred thousand Dollars has been laying waste but I don't want to retire from the bank without transferring the funds to a foreign account to enable me share the proceeds with the receiver. The money will be shared 60% for me and 40% for you.

There is no one coming to ask you about the funds because I secured everything. I only want you to assist me by providing a bank account where the funds can be transferred. You are not to face any difficulties or legal implications as I am going to handle the transfer personally. If you are capable of receiving the funds, do let me know immediately to enable me give you a detailed information on what to do.

For me, I have not stolen the money from anyone because the other people that took the whole money did not face any problems. This is my chance also to grab my own but you must keep the details of the funds secret to avoid any leakages as no one in the bank knows about the funds.

Please get back to me if you are interested and capable to handle this project
I shall intimate you on what to do when I hear from your confirmation and acceptance. If you are capable of being my trusted associate, do declare your consent to me.
I am looking forward to hear from you immediately for further information do not hesitate to call me on this number +226 74 25 27 76

Good Day
I know how surprise this letter will come to you, But i would advice that you consider it

as a request from a family in dare need of assistance. I am Mrs. ROSE E.LUBISI the wife of Mr. DAVID LUBISI of Harare in Zimbabwe. Your contact information came to me from your country's trade journal during my search for a reliable and God fearing person that can assist me and my only son, and I quite believe on my own that you can be of great help in this regard even if i am not acquainted to you before.

The business involves the transfer of NINETHEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS ONLY (US$19,500,000.00) into your account for safekeeping. This fund is inherited from my late husband who was assassinated by the president's (ROBERT MUGABE) aides in view of taking his lands and property during the crisis which lead to the killing and banishing of foreign (white) farmers. After the death of my husband (A day I can never forget) I was approached by our family lawyer who told me that my late husband had filed a document with him which stipulates his "WILL"..In the "WILL" he specifically pointed and I quote,

Darling, I wish to draw your attention to the sum of NINETHEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. Dollars (U.S$19.5M) which I deposited with a Security Company in Johannesburg South Africa with all the documents filed by our lawyer. In case of my absence on earth caused by death only, you should solicit for a foreigner that can assist you to transfer the money out of their (South Africa) for investment purposes. I have saved this money to make the future of my only son “Clement Lubisi " and he told me, my wife immediately the government started eyeing my business and involvement with the white farmers. Please take good care of “CLEMENT" and yourself, we shall meet to part no more.You will understand that my future especially the future of my son depends on this money and as such I will be grateful if you can assist us in transferring this fund to your account overseas for our investments.

As he will direct you with our lawyer to arrange the modalities of transferring this fund without any hitch.For your assistance we have agreed to offer you 45% of the whole fund, 5% for any expenses that may be incurred while the remaining 50% will be kept for us under your care till our arrival in your country. Please i want to tell you that my family living here in South Africa is comfortable with us especially my only son CLEMENT. God blesses you for your anticipated understanding and co-operation..
I await your urgent and positive response
Best regards

22.12.11

I was contacted by a man named John Galvan Esq. working for AIG Private Bank Plc. Isle of man, 12 portland street, portland M13LF, United Kingdom. He told me I was a lost relative of a rich man that was killed in an accident .He finally found me and would work with me to receive 15,500,000.00 British Pounds. Daven Morgan was the Director of Foreign Operations. I worked with them and was told I must pay 15,500.00 Pounds to transfer the money out of UK. I told them that was impossible. They then said transfer to a new bank account we can set up for you.and it will only cost 7,750 Pounds. I said that was impossible.They then said I could do it in increments. I sent a Money Gram from Panama where I live to the address above for $500.00 US dollars and it was taken by someone else is what they said.

If we work really fast they could be cought first thing in the morning. I am supposed to send them $1,400.00 Us dollars today to arrive first thing in the morning Dec. 23. Joan Robert is to collect it at the Western Union office I guess which is close to the above address.

21.12.11

By means of this message, we wish to inform you that after our closed door meeting with theFederal Reserve Bankofficials in New York, it has been agreed that your funds valued US$5, 300, 000.00 will now be processed and released to your Bank Account immediately by theWire TransfersDepartment of the Federal Reserve Bank

However, it may interest you to know that we have entered into full partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank, Bank of New York, Financial Services Authority and the British Bankers Association and your funds valued US$5, 300, 000.00 will now be credited to your Bank Account by the Wire Transfers Department of the HSBC BANK LONDON PLC as soon as you make contact with them

To this effect, you are to contact the Wire Transfers Department of the HSBC BANK LONDON PLC with the details below for the immediate release of your funds and also quote this Reference No.: HSBNY-PAY/HSBCXXCL/2011

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Congratulations, your mobile and code number has been verified to be assigned to our Second Prize Category of £2,000,000.00 (Two Million Great Britain Pounds) with Validation No.: BY781-F4T41 and QLF No.: 10166H.

Your Cheque has been issued in your name and we advise that you check if your name is spelled correctly.

In line with the British Gaming Council statutory procedure to validate the final remittance of won prizes in the United Kingdom, kindly select the PAYMENT OPTION suitable and affordable by you.

As one of our star prize winner, you are required to come to our Head Office here in United Kingdom for prize collection by hand. To enable us make preparation for reservation and accommodation upon your arrival, we require from you a four (4) working days notice before your arrival to the United Kingdom for your cheque collection.

You are to process your visa and let us know your traveling plan so that we can send you approval to gain authorization from the British Gaming Council (BGC). You are expected to be at our redemption office for cheque collection. Kindly inform us of your traveling plan to enable us pick you at the airport and you are required to come with the below compulsory requirements.

i. Sim Card & Sim Pack

ii. Sim Pack Purchase Receipt

iii. Birth Certificate.

Note: Your arrival to London should not exceed the PROMO DEADLINE (20th December 2011).

The online transfer is the fastest way of sending payment to winner's though more expensive. Winners opting for swift bank transfer will be responsible for the cost of transfer (C.O.T). The Swift Bank Transfer charges is 0.1% (£2,000.00 Pounds). After effecting this payment, your cheque will be forward to the transfer office of NatWest Bank Plc London with the below requirements for transfer registration. The maximum duration for transfer is 24hrs after the Swift Bank Transfer fee of 0.1% (£2,000.00 Pounds) is acknowledged.

This communication is the property of Blackberry mobile corporation and is intended for the use of the recipient to which it is addressed regarding his won promotional prize, and may contain confidential, personal, and or privileged information. Please contact us immediately if you are not the intended recipient of this communication, and do not copy, distribute, or take action relying on it. Any communication received in error, or subsequent reply, should be deleted or destroyed